JULIUS EXNER
(Danish 1825-1910)

AVAILABLE WORKS

Johan Julius Exner was born in Copenhagen in 1825, the son of a Czech musician from Bohemia. In his youth Johan showed interest and aptitude for painting and drawing and received private instruction prior to being admitted to the Danish Royal Academy in 1839.  He originally intended to become a history painter and studied under J.L. Lund, later continuing his studies with the Golden Age painter Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg who is commonly referred to as the Father of Danish Painting. Exner first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1844 and was quick to gain recognition, by 1845 he had already received two medals from the Academy.

During his early years Exner’s work consisted mostly of historical subjects and portraits. His 1849 historical painting of Thyra Danebod Tries to Placate Gorm the Elder's Anger with Imprisoned Christians, was purchased by the Danish Royal Painting Collection. He was also commissioned by Count Frederik Christian to create a painting for the Knuthenborg Palace. The count was a strong supporter of Exner, not only paying him well but also providing him with a studio space.

The art critic and Royal Academy professor Niels Lauritz Høyen is credited in helping persuade Exner to move beyond history paintings and to look to the new nationalistic art movement. He began to look for regional Danish subjects and discovered Amager, an island south of Copenhagen which was settled in 1521 by Dutch farmers. Amager lifestyle and traditions were little known to rest of Denmark and Exner’s romantic depictions of the villagers propelled him to even greater recognition. His work was purchased for the National collection, he received the Thorvaldsens Exhibition Medallion, and many of his works were reproduced as prints.